Rumor: Apple, Google may bid on English Premier League TV rights

A new report claims both Apple and Google are looking into placing bids for the TV rights to the next season of the English Premier League in order to bolster their respective Apple TV and Google TV platforms.

The Daily Mail claimed on Tuesday (via MacRumors) that Apple is "showing interest" in vying for the football league's live TV rights. Rival tech giant Google is also reportedly "expected to make similar soundings."

"The Premier League is seen as the type of premium content that will help establish Apple TV in the UK and boost iPad sales, while the iTunes subscription service infrastructure is already in place," wrote report author Charles Sale.

The report named Sky, ESPN and Al Jazeera as three "certain bidders" for the broadcast rights. Sky paid £1.6 billion for its current packages, while ESPN has voiced an intent to purchase more Premier League content.

Apple has steadily added live sports content to its $99 Apple TV set-top box since it was redesigned in the fall of 2010. The device now offers access to MLB, NBA and NHL content.

Tuesday's report comes on the heels of an analyst note that claimed Apple is looking into customized programming for an upcoming full-fledged television set. Sterne Agee's Shaw Wu noted last week that one of the company's most desired features for a television is customized channel lineups. Wu also said in October that he believes licensing deals, rather than hardware or software issues, are the main obstacle preventing Apple from releasing an HDTV.

Various reports have suggested that Apple has been negotiating with networks over a streaming television service. Apple is believed to have proposed a $30-per-month iTunes TV subscription plan to networks as early as 2009. CBS Chief Executive Les Moonves revealed in November that he had been approached by Apple about a streaming TV service, noting that he had rejected the offer because the network was only interested in licensing its content.

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Apple executives, including Senior Vice President Eddy Cue, have met with media executives to discuss "their vision for the future of TV."

Though rumors of an Apple HDTV have persisted for several years now, they gained credence in October when it was revealed that company co-founder Steve Jobs believed he had "cracked" the secret for a connected TV interface. Apple is expected to make use of its own custom-built chips for the set. The long-awaited device is rumored to come in three sizes and could arrive as early as the end of this year, according to one report.

Apple is "showing interest" in vying for the football league's live TV rights.

Ah, that should be good news for NFL fans who own Apple TVs. Please don't flog me for that.

Fortunately even if this IS true, it's no more indicator of a physical television set than anything else. Apple already offers live streams of several sports on the Apple TV. And the more sports with live streams offered, the better, even if I don't watch or like sports myself.

Just a heads up. The Daily Mail is probably the worst newspaper in Britain if not the world. take everything they report with a pinch of salt.... then throw the salt away and ignore everything you've read.

Ah, that should be good news for NFL fans who own Apple TVs. Please don't flog me for that.

Fortunately even if this IS true, it's no more indicator of a physical television set than anything else. Apple already offers live streams of several sports on the Apple TV. And the more sports with live streams offered, the better, even if I don't watch or like sports myself.

That couldn't be more obvious. "football" is soccer. Lol. Nfl has nothing to do with it. It's all good....

A new report claims both Apple and Google are looking into placing bids for the TV rights to the next season of the English Premier League in order to bolster their respective Apple TV and Google TV platforms ...

To me, this is almost like the "beginning of the end" for Apple. Never in a million years would I ever have expected Apple to give a rat's behind about something as banal and useless as organised professional sports.

It's hard to even imagine the words "Apple" and "sports" in the same sentence. Sports, especially football, and especially English football and everything it stands for, is almost the antithesis of Apple.

To me, this is almost like the "beginning of the end" for Apple. Never in a million years would I ever have expected Apple to give a rat's behind about something as banal and useless as organised professional sports.

It's hard to even imagine the words "Apple" and "sports" in the same sentence. Sports, especially football, and especially English football and everything it stands for, is almost the antithesis of Apple.

bleh.

Seconded.

Tim Cook is gay, believes in climate change, and cares deeply about racial equality. Deal with it (and please spare us if you can't).

To me, this is almost like the "beginning of the end" for Apple. Never in a million years would I ever have expected Apple to give a rat's behind about something as banal and useless as organised professional sports.

It's hard to even imagine the words "Apple" and "sports" in the same sentence. Sports, especially football, and especially English football and everything it stands for, is almost the antithesis of Apple.

bleh.

Need content for Apple TV and the rumored iTV.

"Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example" Mark Twain"Just because something is deemed the law doesn't make it just" - SolipsismX

To me, this is almost like the "beginning of the end" for Apple. Never in a million years would I ever have expected Apple to give a rat's behind about something as banal and useless as organised professional sports.

It's hard to even imagine the words "Apple" and "sports" in the same sentence. Sports, especially football, and especially English football and everything it stands for, is almost the antithesis of Apple.

bleh.

Dear Professor,
I normally find your comments to be usually well thought out, reasoned even. Is it really the beginning of the end????

As for the EPL (English Premier League), you may have no interest in it at all, but why would you target it as a worse form of professional soccer, and professional soccer as a worse for of professional sports?
How about WWWF for example?

As for the antithesis - who would have thunked that my favorite computer company of yore would have embraced music - esp modern pop music, by its iTunes?

To me, this is almost like the "beginning of the end" for Apple. Never in a million years would I ever have expected Apple to give a rat's behind about something as banal and useless as organised professional sports.

It's hard to even imagine the words "Apple" and "sports" in the same sentence. Sports, especially football, and especially English football and everything it stands for, is almost the antithesis of Apple.

bleh.

Unless you need an Apple device to watch the games. Apple has enough money, they could buy the rights to ALL professional sports. And then force people to buy one of their devices to watch. People would bitch and complain - as they wait in line to give Apple money.

I'd rather watch La Liga. Real Madrid and Barcelona are better than any English team.

Really - don't make this a stupid which is the best soccer team/ league rant. Plenty of other sites for that. Of course la-liga is always exciting, no one ever knows which 2 teams will be at the top eh? bit like the SPL

I'd rather watch La Liga. Real Madrid and Barcelona are better than any English team.

It's a two team league, largely because of the incredibly uneven distribution of broadcast revenues going to Barcelona and Real Madrid. Last year, league winner Manchester United only received £20 million more in broadcast revenues than the last place club. Outside the big two, I'd say La Liga has no advantage over the BPL.

And yes, love sports or hate sports, they're a critical form of content that's holding back mass adoption of streaming video and keep people attached to cable / satellite subscriptions. I'd love to watch BPL matches on my AppleTV or iPad!

To me, this is almost like the "beginning of the end" for Apple. Never in a million years would I ever have expected Apple to give a rat's behind about something as banal and useless as organised professional sports.

It's hard to even imagine the words "Apple" and "sports" in the same sentence. Sports, especially football, and especially English football and everything it stands for, is almost the antithesis of Apple.

bleh.

Err... PP, remember where the most iconic ad in history was presented to the public...

"Swift generally gets you to the right way much quicker." - auxio -

"The perfect [birth]day -- A little playtime, a good poop, and a long nap." - Tomato Greeting Cards -

Seems that this report doesn't take into account the fact that although SKY paid 1.6bn they also provided the broadcast equipment, cameras and have the studios and presenters.

Apple have none of this in place and if this were true (it's not) it would be a massive undertaking.

They could be looking to partner with sky on the broadcast rights but SKY normally fuck over their 3rd parties after doing a deal with them. E.g. They did a deal with BT for SKY sports then added new sports channels after the deal was complete which BT could not broadcast.

Just a heads up. The Daily Mail is probably the worst newspaper in Britain if not the world. take everything they report with a pinch of salt.... then throw the salt away and ignore everything you've read.

It's no worse than say The Guardian which impressionable people hold in high regard. The Daily Mail is relentlessly attacked by the UK socialist press (such as The Guardian) to give the impression is that the Daily Mail is comparably untrustworthy a new source, when the reality is that it is no worse than many other sources of news in the UK (including the much loved BBC).

It's no worse than say The Guardian which impressionable people hold in high regard. The Daily Mail is relentlessly attacked by the UK socialist press (such as The Guardian) to give the impression is that the Daily Mail is comparably untrustworthy a new source, when the reality is that it is no worse than many other sources of news in the UK (including the much loved BBC).

Seems that this report doesn't take into account the fact that although SKY paid 1.6bn they also provided the broadcast equipment, cameras and have the studios and presenters.

Apple have none of this in place and if this were true (it's not) it would be a massive undertaking.

They could be looking to partner with sky on the broadcast rights but SKY normally fuck over their 3rd parties after doing a deal with them. E.g. They did a deal with BT for SKY sports then added new sports channels after the deal was complete which BT could not broadcast.

A valid point but imagine the boot (excuse the pun) on the other foot. Apple or Google have the rights and Sky have to pay them

If someone else did secure the rights then getting a third party company to do the coverage isn't that hard. They could do a deal with the BBC for example in return for some broadcast options.

Based on viewing figures for major games estimates range between 2.5M to 3.5M subscribers to Sky Sports in the UK, most of which I am sure is for Football coverage (albeit only based on what I know people who have it watch). That is a significant customer base to ' buy' by obtaining the rights to the Premier League.

Unless you need an Apple device to watch the games. Apple has enough money, they could buy the rights to ALL professional sports. And then force people to buy one of their devices to watch. People would bitch and complain - as they wait in line to give Apple money.

Exactly. And Sky does that very thing. You have to get Sky to get the sports. Apple would be in that position of power. And I wouldn't mind that because Sky support is borderline criminal.

To me, this is almost like the "beginning of the end" for Apple. Never in a million years would I ever have expected Apple to give a rat's behind about something as banal and useless as organised professional sports.

It's hard to even imagine the words "Apple" and "sports" in the same sentence. Sports, especially football, and especially English football and everything it stands for, is almost the antithesis of Apple.

bleh.

So Apple's foray into content delivery that offers up bad Hollywood movies, wretched pop music and mindless TV, among other items, does not constitute the "beginning of the end" but if Apple gets involved in delivering sports content, apocalypse approaches.

It's more likely that Apple would bid for the online rights to stream EPL matches worldwide leaving Sky/ESPN to bid for the TV broadcast rights. There would be an EPL App with content broadcast live via Apple TV just like the MLB App with the EPL making revenue from subscriptions. A number of sports are now selling live streaming access online via a subscription.

Heartwarming to read comments from fanboys who could give "Ivory Tower" a worse name. I keep forgetting there are people who disapprove of owning cars, eating meat, voting in elections and wearing shoes instead of Birkenstocks.

Seems that this report doesn't take into account the fact that although SKY paid 1.6bn they also provided the broadcast equipment, cameras and have the studios and presenters.

Apple have none of this in place and if this were true (it's not) it would be a massive undertaking.

They could be looking to partner with sky on the broadcast rights but SKY normally fuck over their 3rd parties after doing a deal with them. E.g. They did a deal with BT for SKY sports then added new sports channels after the deal was complete which BT could not broadcast.

You seem to have forgotten how tight Apple is with Disney - who owns ESPN. And ESPN's takeover of rights and staff from Setanta is showing UK broadcasters there are experienced folks from this side of the pond who can add style to coverage of field sports.

ESPN style in more and better close-ups of action already set them apart.

Ah, that should be good news for NFL fans who own Apple TVs. Please don't flog me for that.

Fortunately even if this IS true, it's no more indicator of a physical television set than anything else. Apple already offers live streams of several sports on the Apple TV. And the more sports with live streams offered, the better, even if I don't watch or like sports myself.

Even if Apple goes after some sports properties or launches a few original scripted series a la Netflix, they're still going to have to play within the cable framework to provide network news, major sports, award shows, etc.

If Apple brings out a freestanding TV, I think they're going to market the content as part of a package with local cable providers and, possibly, satellite carriers. The networks are not going to give their major content properties a mechanism for completely bypassing them. In the case of Comcast/NBCU, if Apple/Google/whoever wants to launch a content product, it would have to either be with Comcast/NBCU's blessing or without content from NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, USA, Bravo, etc., and other content that Comcast/NBCU effectively controls like the Golden Globes and Sunday Night Football.

I think Apple is going to make deals with the cable carriers/networks to turn over the UI and access to their content to Apple in exchange for Apple maintaining the cable carriers/networks revenue streams.

Even if Apple goes after some sports properties or launches a few original scripted series a la Netflix, they're still going to have to play within the cable framework to provide network news, major sports, award shows, etc.

To me, this is almost like the "beginning of the end" for Apple. Never in a million years would I ever have expected Apple to give a rat's behind about something as banal and useless as organised professional sports.

It's hard to even imagine the words "Apple" and "sports" in the same sentence. Sports, especially football, and especially English football and everything it stands for, is almost the antithesis of Apple.

bleh.

But this is already happening - NBA, NHL, etc. all have apps that stream their games live on iPad, etc. Perhaps this is just a matter getting the Premiership to do the same thing.